Chapter 78

  At night, Yu Cai was about to go to bed after playing all day when Ji Shu Fan knocked on the door and came in.

  Yu Cai moved the chair over and asked him to sit down. Qi Shu Fan looked at her seriously, "Xiao Cai, did I do something wrong to make you angry?"

  "Uh, no, how is that possible, why would you think that?"

  "I feel like you've become much colder towards me."

  Yu Cai smiled and said, "Is there? If it's true, maybe this is an inevitable process of growing up. As for me, I really don't have the feeling you mentioned."

  Qī shū fán ruò yǒu suǒ sī de kàn zhe tā, "xiǎo cǎi, nǐ zhèyàng ràng wǒ hěn bù ān".

  Translation:

  Qi Fan looked at her with a worried expression, "Xiao Cai, you're making me very uneasy".

  "Dear uncle, I think you've gotten too into character. You should know that by now, we basically no longer have the guardian and ward relationship you always thought we had."

  "Xiao Cai, I hope if you have any ideas, you can directly tell me."

  "What do you want me to say?"

  "Do you have anything to say?"

  "I don't think I have anything to say."

  "Xiao Cai——" Qi Shu carefully opened his mouth, "Do you still remember what happened during the summer vacation when we got drunk?"

  "Remember, I was seriously ill once."

  "Do you remember what you did after getting drunk?"

  "What did I do? All I remember is being very thirsty," Yucai took advantage of Qishu Fan's guilt.

  As expected, a hint of guilt flashed across Guan's face, "Really only remember this?"

  Yu Cai raised an eyebrow, "Is there something else?"

  Qishu Fan opened his mouth, but still couldn't speak. Yu Cai sighed and said, "Qishu Fan, I hope that if I've done anything wrong, you can also be honest with me."

  Qishu Fan couldn't speak anymore, struggled for half a day, and suddenly got up, "Nothing's wrong, go to sleep".

  "You should get some rest too, goodnight."

  Yu Cai sent away Qi Shu, and then her whole body felt weak and soft, collapsing onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

  The next day at breakfast, Qishu Fan asked, "Xiao Cai, after the New Year's holiday, do you have time? Where do you want to go and play?"

  "Uh, it's like this, we start school on the 16th, but the teacher asked me to come before the 14th to help him with some things, and the road trip will take two days, so I have to set off on the 11th, I'm afraid there won't be enough time".

  Qibook suddenly realized that Yucai had already gone to college and things were different now. "Shi Zhi, when are you leaving?"

  "Twelve".

  Qishu let out a sigh, "In the past it was always me who didn't have time, now it's your turn to be busy."

  Yu Cai laughed and said, "No way, it's the law of nature." Seeing that Qi Shu Fan didn't respond, she continued, "Right, I have to go back soon, my mom is urging me."

  "Why don't you stay for a few more days?"

  "It's not possible, and also Chinese New Year is approaching soon, it's really not very convenient."

  "Did you take the train to school in the provincial city?"

  "Uh-huh."

  "How about coming over to my place for a few days after that, and then going up to the third floor to bask in the sun and have some tea?"

  Yu Cai lowered her head and said, "Mr. Qi, I really don't understand what you mean. Ah Shi has already gone to college, it's really unnecessary for you to think so much about me."

  "Xiao Cai, must you be so particular?"

  "But you and Aunt He and Aunt Xia always make me feel uncomfortable."

  Qishu fell silent, and Yucai also stopped speaking, and several people finished their breakfast in silence.

  Yu Cai was hesitating whether to leave immediately or not when He Qi and Xia Yunyun arrived.

  "How exciting!" he exclaimed, "Yu Cai, I thought about it all night and finally came up with a great idea. Let's go fishing!"

  Yu Cai was so angry that she had the urge to kick him to death, "Fishing in the middle of winter, you really have a unique interest, why not just lie on the ice and wait for the carp to come to you!"

  "There's a fishing spot in the city, where you can catch fish anytime. Afterwards, we went to soak in the hot springs. My mom said that a new hot spring resort just opened up in the city and it's really good."

  "No, I'm going back."

  Yu Cai, you're really useless!

  "Xia Yun said, 'I heard that hot springs are good for beauty and skin care. Let's go! The sandstorm in Beijing is too big, I feel like my skin has become coarse over the past six months'."

  "Xiao Cai, you can go back now, it's fine, just go and play with them."

  "No..."

  He dragged Yu Cai's arm out, "You have to go even if you don't want to".

  "What's wrong with you? Are you obstructing citizens' freedom of movement!"

  "What's it to you if I'm in your way? If you've got the guts, go and report me!"

  He Qizhen dragged Yu Cai into the carriage of Qi Shu Fan, and said with a smile, "Teaching us that political power comes from the barrel of a gun is indeed correct."

  Yu Caihen's teeth itched with hatred, "He Qi, did I owe you money in my past life?"

  "You'd better think twice, failing to repay a loan can lead to legal consequences."

  Yu Cai's words were stuck in her throat, and she leaned back against the chair, praying that Fan would throw her small bag to her and start the car.

  "Hey, Yuzai, have you taken your driver's license test?"

  "I'm done with the exam."

  "This semester I'm too busy and don't have time, next semester I'll go take another one, so in the future when I go out, Uncle won't need to accompany me every time."

  Yu Cai's eyes swept across the prayer book, and her body suddenly stiffened. A strange sense of pleasure suddenly rose in her heart, and she abruptly came back to herself. What was she doing?

  He immediately regretted his words, and he also knew the reason why Qi Shu Fan accompanied him every time. Just as he was about to make amends, he heard Yu Cai's voice, "He Qi, you're really quick to burn your bridges, aren't you afraid that my uncle will be annoyed and not lend you a car? You have the ability to buy a car and play with it."

  He could only repeatedly apologize and said with a hint of joking, "You've all grown up and now you think this old man is in the way."

  Xia Yunyin said with a smile, "Uncle Qi is not old at all. My mom says it every time she sees him, Uncle Qi is getting younger and younger."

  When Xiaobian's mouth corner cracked a bitter smile, perhaps it was time for him to consider rebuilding a family.

  Yu Cai smiled lightly, "Dear Comrade Qi Shu Fan, I seem to have seen a hint of loneliness on your face."

  "I think this is every parent's expression when they realize their children must grow up."

  "Maybe".

  He was so regretful and hastily said, "Uncle Qi, we are naturally far apart from reading now, but after working and getting married, we will still come back".

  "It's hard to say, for example, if you get married, your wife and mother-in-law are born enemies, who will you help then?"

  "If she doesn't respect my mom, I won't marry her."

  "It's not always just about respect, nowadays many mothers-in-law automatically give way, avoiding trouble for themselves and their sons who are caught in the middle. The sons also firmly refuse to live with their mothers, it's hard to serve two masters!"

  How natural and clear it is, yet at times I am speechless.

  Yu Cai smiled lightly, "Dear uncle, you don't have to worry about this kind of thing, because your charm is enough to captivate any female compatriot, including your wife and granddaughter."

  "You little scamp!" Ji Shu Fan reached out and ruffled Yu Cai's hair.

  Yu Cai rubbed her face against his sleeve, and Qi Shu Fan smiled, "Little Cai, do you think you'll always be half-hearted towards me for the rest of your life?"

  Yu Cai snapped back to reality, immediately sat up straight and hummed, "Dear uncle, you always like to say things I don't understand. You should know that I really don't have the nerve to be rude to you."

  Qī shū fán wú nài kǔ xiào.

  Translation:

  Prayer book is helpless and bitterly smiled.

  The fishing spot was huge, and there were many fish in the water. Yucai didn't know what good luck she had encountered, but those fish kept biting her hook. As the bucket of fish grew more and more full, she became more and more excited. When it was time to go eat lunch at the hot spring resort, she immediately said without hesitation, "You all go ahead, I'm having a great time fishing here."

  He rolled his eyes and said, "Can't you have some team spirit?"

  Yu Cai reluctantly looked at the clear fish pond and asked, "Do you want to bring back what you've caught?"

  "It's okay," she finally felt a little relieved, realizing that sometimes it's better to let go.

  Upon arrival at the bathhouse, the group split into two teams. Yu Xuan and Xia Yunyun went to the women's bath, chatted for a bit, then fell silent, focusing on soaking in the hot spring.

  After a long while, Xia Yu suddenly spoke up and asked, "Yu Cai, if you were me, would you stop mom from remarrying?"

  "If she is going to marry a good man, I won't stop her. Children can't accompany their parents for their whole lives."

  Xia Yun let out a soft "oh" and fell silent again.

  Yu Cai glanced at her and then closed her eyes again, her thoughts drifting beyond the nine heavens.

  Yu Cai and Xia Yunyun's skin was wrinkled from the cold as they got dressed to go out, Qi Shu and the others were already waiting outside. The few of them got in the car and rushed back, Yu Cai leaned against the window and dozed off, when she woke up the sky outside had already darkened, looking at her watch, she had slept for half an hour, the people in the back seat were also sleeping soundly.

  Yu Cai said in a low voice, "Shall I open it?"

  "It's late and there are many cars, let's talk a bit more and we'll arrive soon."

  Yu Cai took out a piece of chewing gum from her pocket and waved it at him, Qi Shu nodded, she unwrapped one and stuffed it into his mouth, putting the rest back in the bag.

  "You don't seem to chew gum, so why is there always a pack with you?"

  "I'm always worried that when talking to others, I'll run out of things to say halfway through. Eating is a good way to resolve the awkwardness."

  Qibook suddenly let out a sound, and in his heart there was a thread of disappointment that seemed to exist yet not exist. Of course, he didn't know that what Yuciai said was indeed her true thoughts, but since long ago, the number of pieces of gum in her bag had increased dramatically, just so she could hand one over to him whenever he needed it.

  Yu Cai glanced at his angular profile, a hint of sadness flowing in his eyes, and quickly closed them again to lean against the car window.